History of Prayer

The Scottish Episcopal Confessional Prayer

The Scottish Episcopal Church began as a distinct church tradition in 1582, when the Church of Scotland began to adopt a Presbyterian polity and reformed theology. In 1584, the Scottish Parliament under James VI of Scotland passed the “Black Acts,” appointing two bishops and administered the Church of Scotland under royal authority. This resulted in opposition and was forced to concede that administration was under the General Assembly. In 1633, Charles I was crowned in Holyrood Abbey with full Anglican rites and attempted to introduce the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) in 1637. It was a synthesis of liturgical material from the Anglican BCP and the Church of Scotland’s Book of Common Order, composed most notably by the Archbishop of St. Andrews, John Spottiswoode, the Bishop of Ross, John Maxwell, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud. On 23 July 1637, the use of this new liturgy resulted in a riot that broke out in St. Giles’ Edinburgh that indirectly resulted in the Bishops’ Wars. The Scottish BCP came into use under the reign of William and Mary, where the Communion Office was compiled by non-jurors – clergy that refused to swear allegiance to the monarch – in accordance with primitive models. The modifications that differed from the English liturgy would later be present in the liturgy used by the American Episcopal Church.

The BCP was first published in Scots Gaelic in 1794, where it was believed that the existing Irish Gaelic BCP was acceptable – though this was an erroneous view – and to avoid controversy with the Church of Scotland. Provided herein is a series of confessional prayers found in the 1794, 1912, 1970, and 1982 Scottish Episcopal BCP in English and Scots Gaelic. The purpose of this endeavor is to demonstrate how this prayer has changed from the 18^th to the 20^th century, and how the Scots Gaelic language itself has changed over time. It is noteworthy that the confessional prayer in the BCPs after 1912 is placed in the Liturgy of the Catechumens, while earlier versions place it in the Liturgy of the Faithful.

Confessional Prayer (1794)

A Dhe uile chumhachdaich, Athair ar Tighearn Iosa Criosd, a Chruith-fhear nan uile nithe, a Bhreitheamh nan uile dhaoine; tha sin ag aideachadh agus ag caoidh ar peacaidh agus ar n-aingeachd lionmhòr, a rinn sinn o àm gu h-àm gur o uamhara, le smuainte, le focal, agus le gniomh, an aghaidh do mhòrachd dhiaghaidh, a brosnuchadh t-fheirg agus do chorruich gur o cheart n’ a’ ar naghaidh fein. The aithreachas dùrachdach, agus tha bron cridhe oirn air son ar mighniomhara; tha ’n cuimhne a cur doilgheas oirn tha an uallach do-fhulang. Dean tròcair oirn, dean thròcair oirn, Athair ro thròcairich; air son do Mhic ar Tighearn Iosa Criosd, maith dhuinn gach ni chuaidh seachad; agus deonuich gu ’n dean sinn gu bràth an deigh so feirbheis dhuit agus do thoileachadh ann nuadhachd beatha, chum glòir agus onoir t-ainm, trid Iosa Criosd ar Tighearna, Amen.

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all men; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we from time to time most grievously have committed, by thought, word, and deed, against thy divine Majesty; provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous unto us; the burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee, in newness of life, to the honour and glory of thy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Confessional Prayer (1912)

A Dhé Uile-chumhachdaich, Athair ar Tighearna Iosa Criosd, a chruithfhir nan uile nithe, a bhreitheimh nan uile dhaoine; Tha sinn ag aideachadh agus a' caoidh ar peacaidhean agus ar n-aingidheachd lìonmhoir, a chuir sinn bho àm gu àm gu mòr-chiontach 'an gnìomh, le smuain, le focal, agus le deanadas, an aghaidh do Mhòrachd dhiadhaidh ; gu ro cheart a' brosnachadh d' fheirg agus do chorruich 'n ar n-aghaidh. Tha sinn gn dùrachdach a' gabhail aithreachais, agus tha bròn o'r cridhe oirnn air son ar droch ghnìomharan so; tha 'bhi 'cuimhneachadh orra cràiteach dhuinn; tha 'n eallach dhiubh do-iomchair. Dean tròcair oirnn, dean tròcair oirnn, Athair ro thròcairich; air sgàth do Mhic ar Tighearna Iosa Criosd, maith dhuinn na h-uile a chaidh seachad; agus deànaich, gu bràth an déigh so gu'n toir sinn seirbhis dhuit agus gu'n toilich sinn thu, ann an nuadhachd beatha, chum onoir agus glòire d' ainme, trìd Iosa Criosd ar Tighearna. Amen.

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant, that we might ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Confessional Prayer (1970)

Tha sinn ag aideachadh do Dhia uile-chumhachadach, an t-Athair, am Mac agus an Spiorad Naomh, gun do pheacaich sinn le’r smuaintean, le’r briathran agus le’r gnìomhannan; le’r mór choire fhéin. Air an adhbhar sin tha sinn a’ guidhe air Dia tròcair a dhèanamh oirnn.

We confess to God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, through our own grievous fault.  Wherefore we pray God to have mercy upon us.

Confessional Prayer (1982)

A Dhia ar n-Athair, tha sinn ag aideachadh dhut agus do ar co-bhuill ann an Corp Chrìosda gun do pheacaich sinn ann an smaoin,facal is gniomh, agus anns na dh'fhàilnich sinn a dheanamh. Tha sinn gu dearbh duilich. Maith dhuinn ar peacannan, agus liubhar sinn o chumhachd uilc, air sgàth do Mhic a fhuair bàs air ar son, Iosa Crìosd, ar Tighearna.

God our Father, we confess to you and to our fellow members in the Body of Christ that we have sinned in thought, word and deed, and in what we have failed to do. We are truly sorry. Forgive us our sins, and deliver us from the power of evil, for the sake of your Son who died for us, Jesus Christ, our Lord.